Red Hat on the River

I have wanted to try Red Hat on the River for some time now so I decided Hudson Valley Restaurant week would be a great time to do so. The cozy and romantic restaurant sits along the Hudson River in the quaint town of Irvington, NY. Although it was a chilly night, it didn’t stop me from admiring the stunning view of the Manhattan skyline from outside of the restaurant. My husband and I started off with cocktails at the intimate U-shaped bar. The bartender was excellent, and I enjoyed the most delectable pear cocktail along with the tasty sweet potato chips they have at the bar.

When it was time for our reservation, they seated us upstairs, where we enjoyed our dinner in the restaurant’s serene atmosphere. The mini baguettes they serve with dinner added to the authenticity of this French-inspired restaurant. I chose to order from the Restaurant Week menu and my husband ordered from their traditional menu.

We both had the French onion soup to start, which was savory and delightful. I rarely have the pleasure of enjoying french onion soup at restaurants because most places make it using beef broth, and I don’t eat red meat. Red Hat On The River, however, created a delicious vegetarian soup which could satiate the palettes of carnivores, vegetarians, and all others in between.

For the main course, I enjoyed the Pan-Roasted Free Range chicken. The portions were generous and the food was cooked to perfection. My husband ordered the ‘Banh Mi’ Style Beef Sandwich, and enjoyed every bite!

Last, but certainly not least, we both ordered delicious desserts. My husband ordered the key lime pie, which was made in house and fresh as can be. The combination of its light texture with the right amount of tartness made for a pleasant dessert experience. I had the Lemon Tea Cake, which was from By The Way Bakery in Hastings-On-Hudson. The cake, which was also gluten-free, was moist in texture and rich in flavor. I think it’s especially wonderful that Red Hat supports local businesses…what a great way to promote buying local in the Hudson Valley! I hope to visit the By The Way Bakery and taste their other delicacies soon.

We left the restaurant feeling very full and satisfied. I hope to return soon and try more of this wonderful restaurant’s specialties.

Restaurant Week ends on 11/17/13. I highly recommend trying one of the many amazing participating restaurants! Here is a link to them:

http://www.hudsonvalleyrestaurantweek.com/restaurants_2013.php

Here is a link to Red Hat On the River’s website:

http://www.redhatbistro.com/

Here is a link to Red Hat On the River’s Restaurant Week Menu:

http://www.hudsonvalleyrestaurantweek.com/menus/Red%20Hat.pdf

By The Way Bakery Website:

http://btwbakery.com/

xoxo, Jessi

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week

Attention Hudson Valley Residents: It’s time to indulge in old and new favorite restaurants in the area once again!

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week will be from November 4-November 17 this Fall.

You can access a list of participating restaurants here: http://www.hudsonvalleyrestaurantweek.com/restaurants_2013.php.

For those of you who are new to the area or have not yet participated, Hudson Valley Restaurant Week offers pre-fixe lunches and dinners at some of the best restaurants in the area. This is a wonderful time to visit a restaurant you have been wanting to try…the meals include appetizers, a main course, and dessert at great prices ($20.95 for lunch, $29.95 for dinner). You can see some of the Restaurant Week menus on the Hudson Valley Restaurant Week website or by visiting the sites of the participating restaurants.  I am trying to decide which restaurant(s) to visit this time…maybe Red Hat on the River? I have been wanting to go there for some time…Or an old favorite like Half Moon or Chutney Masala? (Can you tell I really enjoy restaurants right on the Hudson River?) With so many fabulous places in the area, it can be difficult to choose. I hope you all can get out to try at least one place!

Let me know if you have any recommendations!

Also, for those Open Table users, here is a list of the participating restaurants that use Open Table for reservations for Restaurant Week: http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?m=8&ref=7420&pid=417 .

xoxo,

Jessi

Ready…Set…Go Eat!

  March 11-24 is Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, where restaurants in the area offer special pre-fixe menus to highlight some of their tasty dishes at a great price. For $20.95 per person for lunch or $29.95 per person for dinner, this is a great time for diners to indulge and enjoy a delicious appetizer, a main course, and a dessert. Curious about a restaurant you have never tried? This is one of the best times to go! The Hudson Valley Restaurant Week website, www.hudsonvalleyrestaurantweek.com, has a list of all of the participating restaurants and also includes a link to most of the restaurant’s menus. If you notice that one of the restaurant’s does not have a menu on the Restaurant Week site, check out the restaurant’s homepage for more information.

You can make reservations for many of the restaurants through Open Table, www.opentable.com. This is a great site to use because it allows you to acquire points, which eventually turn into savings at restaurants. For a list of all of the Hudson Valley Restaurant participants that use Open Table, visit here:http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?m=8&ref=7420&pid=417.

Last night, my fiance, Matt, and I went to one of the participating restaurants, Half Moon (www.halfmoonhudson.com). The restaurant is beautiful and spacious and sits right on the Hudson River in Dobbs Ferry, NY. The large windows capture stunning views of both the Manhattan skyline as well as the Tappan Zee Bridge. You feel like you are in a boat as you dine and watch the water ripple right outside your window. The dim lighting also contributes to the chic yet cozy ambiance of the restaurant. In addition to the lovely decorum, the staff service as well as the food were both excellent. We both ordered food off of the Restaurant Week Menu, http://www.halfmoonhudson.com/restaurantweekdinner.html,  however, you still do have the option to order from the regular menu.

The bread that they put on the table is fresh out of the oven and served with a side of fresh grated cheese to top it.

This is certainly a delicious start to a great meal. We also really enjoyed the appetizers, entrees, and desserts…everything was wonderful! Here are a few pictures of what we had. I apologize for the low quality images…I didn’t want to distract others with a camera flash. However, you can get an idea of what their food looks like and see that the portions are a great size and the presentation is lovely!

From top left to bottom right: Roast Tomato Bisque; Guajillo Rub 1/2 Boneless Chicken with carrots, smashed potatoes, and natural jus; Skirt Steak Chimichuri with fingerling potatoes & roasted leeks; Coconut Risotto Pudding with caramelized pineapple; NY Cheese cake with fresh berry compote

(not pictured but still enjoyed by Matt: pastrami spring toll with spicy pineapple slaw, Russian dressing, and spicy mustard)

I hope all of my readers in and around the area take advantage of Hudson Valley Restaurant Week. I would love to hear your recommendations and experiences at other places!

-Jessi